Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-20
AWAITING DEATH.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CON-
pEMEgD PRISONER pURYgAR.
He says He Has Been Wrongly Judged
More Sunstrokes-
News Notes.
,c,rrs.ro,sepce Of tho Richmond pispatcn.l

rcorrespondence Of tho Richmond Dispatcn.l
PETERSBURG, VA, July 10, 1887.
The Dispatch's correspondent visited
Holmes Il. Puryear today and found
him cheerful and commune ltlye.
Through the kindness of the jail OIL
Gals Furyear is taken from his cell IN
the dungeon morning and brought
to one of the airy rooms on the upper
floor of the building, where he Is al
lowed to remain under guard until the
shades of evening. The prisoner readi-
" recognized his visitor, though they
had not met in two years. The occA-
SION of the meeting at that time was
to obtain the interview from him pub
lished Mt the time in the Oi5pntch.
Puryear is looking well, and takes the
refusal OF the Governor to commute ms
sentence very quietly, and apparently
looks upon his death-sentence compla-
Gently. In referring to the acton OF
Governor Lee Puryear declared that he
had entertained strong hope of pardon
when the Governor had fully examined
into his case, and that he felt certain OF
a commutation of his sentence. But
he had no hard feeling towards the
Governor. lie stated that he was daily
deyoting himself to the preparation OF
his soul for death aud to meet the great
Judge of all men. He is visited fire.
quently by the ministers OF the city,
though Rev. j. W. Kosebro, OF the
First Presbyterian church, is his spirit
Gal adviser, who would accompany him
TO the scatlOld.
81 have given up all hope OF any
further reprieye," said the prisoner,
"unloss the report OF new evidence
which I know to be true be brought
TO the attention OF the Governor by my
friends. / viii certainly
MAKE 10 CONFESSION,
as | have none to make. But | will
make q speech from the scalfOld, in
which will prove to the pu6lic that |
am innocent Of the crime OF which |
was convicted.
Like CluveriuS. have been judged
wrongly. end the state will commit the
same crime in hanging me that it com
mittod in hanging him--yiz., that Of
hanging an innocent man
Iuryear has always declared that he
was convicted upon fraudulent evil
dence, end if he has any hard feelings
against any one it Is evidently against
those upon whose testimony he was
convicted.
81 have finished writing my book,
said the prisoner, "but as yet have not
found any one to publish it. | am in
communication with several publishers,
and think the public will be able to get
it Immediately after my execution
During the conversation Puryear sat
with his feet upon desk tanning him
self. On the table were Bible and
T, etamcnt, both open, which he had
been reading before your correspondent
came in. lie spends much OF his time
each day reading the Scriptures and
such tracts as are sent him by the min
isters. he persists in his innocence,
prociaims himself ready to meet death,
and considering that that awful event |
is so near at hand, is certainly about -
cool and collected a man as one ever
sees under such circumstances.
ANOTHER FATAL CASE or sUSsrRoKE.
Charles Tinsley, a well-known col
ored politician, died last night from |
the effects of sunstroke. He was a
bricklayer by trade, and was called
upon yesterday to attend to some im-
portant work. After this work was
over he returned home, and fell from
exhaustion ut his gate. Tinsley was
one OF the few colored men in this city |
who, at the breaking out of the late
war, asked thet his services might be |
accepted in defence OF the South.
Tie Democrats Of this city have yet |
taken no steps towards the appoint
mcnt of delegates to the State conyen-
ton at Roanoke. They will do this in
full time, however, aud VIII appoint |
their best men to represent them in |
that convention.
Mr. s. n. c. Foster, aged eigbty-four |
Yeas, died shortly before midnight |
last night. He was the Oldest tailor IN |
the city, the oldest Odd-FellOw, and |
the Oldest surviving member OF the |
old Petersburg Grnys. lie was genial, |
companionable, well-preserved man.
The mortality in our city he's been |
unusually heavy during the heated |
spell, and the funerals ut both the white
and colored churches have been MINER
Gus. At one OF the colored Baptist |
churches yesterday, it IS sad, two
bodies were brought in at the same |
time and the unusual scene OF double |
funeral service was witnessed.
MIR. Stanhope Robertson, one OF our
most respected citizens, IS seriously |
i'll at his residence, on Washington, |
street.
A negro named Edward Brown, while |
handling a pistol last night, which he |
did not know was.loaded, caused the |
discharge of the weapon. The ball |
passed through his lett hand, destroy |
ing one of the fingers.
A somewhat revolving case was re-
ported to the authorities to-day. a
coiored woman died on Sunday morn
ing. On Monday the people having
charge Of the house locked the build
ing up and went off on an excursion.
leaving the body as it had died. 1t
became so offensive as to attract the at
tcntion Of the neiehborhood, and the
matter was accordingly reported.
ROBIN ADMR.
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